BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly to a container
feeder for use in packaging machines for making a web of packaging material into a
tube, filling contents into the tube, transporting the tube a distance at a time which
distance corresponds to the length of one container, sealing and cutting the tube
transversely thereof to form a pillowlike uncompleted container, and feeding the uncompleted
container to a completed container forming device to form the container into a rectangular
parallelepipedal completed container, the container feeder being adapted to feed the
uncompleted container to the completed container forming device.
[0002] As disclosed, for example, in JP-A No. 10-29608 (1998), such feeders are already
known for feeding pillowlike uncompleted containers to a conveyor of a container forming
device for forming the uncompleted container into a rectangular parallelepipedal completed
container. The known container feeder comprises a slanting chute having a lower end
positioned at the starting end of the transport path of the conveyor, and a receiving
member so disposed as to be movable upward or downward along the transport path of
the chute, the receiving member being movable into the chute transport path when moving
downward to receive the lower end of the container.
[0003] With the conventional feeder, the container is transported, as received by the receiving
member at is lower end, along the chute. To avoid interference with the conveyor,
the receiving member can not be moved down to a position close to the conveyor transport
path. The container is eventually allowed to fall off the chute and received by the
conveyor. Accordingly, the falling container becomes inevitably damaged by an impact
produced when received by the conveyor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of the present invention is to overcome the above problem and to provide
a container feeder adapted to feed pillowlike uncompleted containers to a container
forming device for forming the uncompleted container into a rectangular parallelepipedal
completed container, without causing damage to the container during feeding.
[0005] The present invention provides a container feeder for feeding pillowlike uncompleted
containers each having a container body and upper and lower ears projecting laterally
from upper and lower ends of the container body to a conveyor of a container forming
device for forming the uncompleted container into a rectangular parallelepipedal completed
container, the container feeder comprising a slanting chute having a lower end positioned
at a starting end of a conveyor transport path, a first receiving member so disposed
as to be movable upward or downward along a chute transport path, the first receiving
member being movable into the chute transport path when moving downward to receive
the lower end of the container body of the container falling along the chute under
gravity, and a second receiving member so disposed as to be movable upward or downward
along the chute transport path, the second receiving member being movable into the
chute transport path when moving downward to receive the upper ears of the container
received by the first receiving member.
[0006] With the container feeder of the present invention, the container is transported
along the chute while being received by the first receiving member first, and then
by the second receiving member. Since the second receiving member receives the upper
ears of the container, the second receiving member can be moved down to a position
close to the conveyor transport path. Accordingly, the pillowlike uncompleted container
can be fed to the container forming device free of damage. Since the container falling
down the chute has its body received by the first receiving member, the container
which is forced down can be received effectively, and can be delivered to the second
receiving member after the container is relieved of the downward force.
[0007] If the path of upward or downward movement of the second receiving member has a lower
end joined to the starting end of the conveyor transport path, the container can be
received by the conveyor without allowing the container to fall off the chute.
[0008] Further if the speed of downward movement of the first receiving member is higher
than the speed of downward movement of the second receiving member, the first receiving
member rapidly leaves the container after the second receiving member receives the
upper ears, with the result that the timing of delivery of the container from one
receiving member to the other can be determined easily. Moreover, the container can
then be fed to the container forming device smoothly free of damage.
[0009] The first receiving member is attached to a first endless chain having a lower-side
travel path positioned close to the chute transport path along the upper side thereof,
and the second receiving member is attached to a second endless chain having an upper-side
travel path positioned close to the chute transport path along the lower side thereof,
the second endless chain comprising a pair of chain members extending in parallel
as spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and each having the second
receiving member attached thereto, the chain members having lower ends positioned
at opposite sides of the starting end of the conveyor transport path. In this case,
the second receiving member can be moved down to the starting end of the conveyor
transport path to deliver the container to the conveyor without the likelihood of
the container falling off the chute.
[0010] The conveyor has holders, each holder comprising a bottom plate extending in parallel
to the conveyor transport path, and a side plate projecting upward from the bottom
plate and extending orthogonal to the conveyor transport path, the side plate of the
holder as halted at the starting end of the conveyor transport path having an upper
end joined to the lower end of the chute to deliver the container from the chute to
the holder in this state. The container can then be allowed to slide down the chute
and subsequently down the side plate for transport. Thus, the container can be fed
to the container forming device free of any impact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a packaging machine including a container
feeder of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the container feeder;
FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a view in cross section taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an ear bonding device included in the packaging
machine and the vicinity of the device;
FIG. 6 is a view in cross section of the ear bonding device;
FIG. 7 is a view in longitudinal section of the ear bonding device; and
FIG. 8 includes perspective views of containers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described next with reference to the
drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a packaging machine, which comprises a tube forming device 11 for forming
a tube T from a web W of paper-base laminate having a thermoplastic resin layer over
each of its opposite surfaces by lapping opposite edges of the laminate over each
other and sealing the lap, a filling device 12 for filling the tube T with contents,
an uncompleted container forming device 13 for forming pillowlike uncompleted containers
C1 from the filled tube T by sealing and cutting the tube T transversely thereof while
forwarding the filled tube T a distance at a time which distance corresponds to the
length of one container, a completed container forming device 14 for forming the uncompleted
container C1 into a rectangular parallelepipedal completed container C2, and a container
feeder 15 for feeding uncompleted containers C1 to the completed container forming
device 14.
[0014] As shown in detail in FIG. 8(a), the uncompleted container C1 comprises a container
body M1 having a top portion T1 and a bottom portion B1 which are V-shaped in cross
section, and a pair of upper ears U1 and a pair of lower ears L1 projecting laterally
from upper and lower ends although formed in a generally rectangular parallelepipedal
shape.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 8(b), the completed container C2 comprises a container body M2 having
a complete rectangular parallelepipedal shape and flat top portion T2 and bottom portion
B2, a pair of upper ears U2 lapped over and bonded to the top portion T2, and a pair
of lower ears L2 lapped over and bonded to respective side walls of the container
body M2.
[0016] With reference to FIG. 1 again, the completed container forming device 14 is provided
with a forming conveyor 21 disposed forwardly of the uncompleted container forming
device 13 obliquely therebelow and having a path of transport extending forward via
a feed station SO, folding station S1, heating station S2, ear bonding station S3
and discharge station S4.
[0017] The folding station S1 is provided with a folding device 22 for the uncompleted container
C1 for folding the top portion T1 and bottom portion B1 of the uncompleted container
C1 flat and folding the upper and lower ears U1, L1 upward to cause the upper ears
U1 to project upward from the top folded portions and to position the lower ears L1
close to the respective side walls of the container body M1. The heating station S2
is provided with a heater 23 for heating the portions of the container body M1 and
the ears U1, L1 to be bonded under pressure, the ear bonding station S3 is provided
with an ear bonding device 24 for bonding under pressure the upper ears U1 to the
top portion T1 in an overlapping manner and pressure-bonding the lower ears L1 to
the side walls of the container body M1 in an overlapping manner, and the discharge
station S4 is provided with a discharge device 25 for discharging the completed container
C2 from the conveyor 21.
[0018] Folding guides 26 extend from the folding station S1 to the ear bonding station S3
via the heating station S2. While the container C1 is being transported from the folding
station S1 to the ear bonding station S3, the upwardly projecting upper ears U1 are
progressively folded downward to lap over the container body top portion T1 by the
folding guides 26. Although not shown, similar folding guide are provided also for
the lower ears L1.
[0019] The forming conveyor 21 comprises a front drive sprocket 31, a rear driven sprocket
32, an endless block chain 33 reeved around these sprockets 31, 32, and a multiplicity
of holders 34 connected to the chain 33, each pair of adjacent holders 34 being in
contact with each other.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 5 in detail, the chain 33 has a multiplicity of transport blocks
41 connected to one another.
[0021] The transport block 41 has a fitting projection 42 projecting forward from its front
portion and a fitting cavity 43 formed in its rear portion and opened rearward. The
projection 42 of the transport block 41 in the rear is fitted in the cavity 43 in
the preceding block 41, and a connecting pin 44 extends through the projection 42
and the cavity 43. The connecting pin 44 has opposite ends projecting laterally from
the block and each carrying a support roller 45 thereon. The support rollers 45 are
fitted in a pair of guide grooves 47 formed as opposed to each other in a conveyor
frame 46.
[0022] The holder 34 comprises a flat bottom plate 51 fixed to the upper surface of the
transport block 41 and a side plate 52 extending upright from the upper surface of
the plate 51.
[0023] The bottom plate 51 and the side plate 52 have a width equal to the width of the
completed container C2. The height of the side plate 52 from the upper surface of
the bottom plate 51 is equal to the height of the completed container C2. The distance
between the side plates 52 of the two adjacent holders 34 is equal to the front-to-rear
thickness of the completed container C2.
[0024] FIGS. 5 to 7 show the ear bonding device 24 in detail.
[0025] The ear bonding device 24 comprises an upper ear pressing member 61 disposed above
the ear bonding station S3 vertically movably for pressing the upper ears U1 against
the upper wall of the container body M1, and a pair of lower ear pressing members
62 arranged at opposite sides of the ear bonding station S3 openably for pressing
the lower ears L1 against the respective side walls of the container body M1.
[0026] A horizontal support plate 63 is provided above the ear bonding station S3 and has
a hole 64 centrally thereof. A vertical guide sleeve 65 is provided upright on the
support plate 63 around the upper surface inner periphery thereof defining the hole
64. At the front and rear sides of the hole 64, a pair of mound-shaped opposed brackets
66 extend vertically from the lower surface of the support plate 63.
[0027] The upper ear pressing member 61 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepipedal
block having a thickness in the vertical direction, and is secured to the lower end
of a vertical lift rod 71. An inverted U-shaped escape groove 72 is formed in the
lower side of the pressing member 61 for avoiding interference with the folding guide
26. A vertical lift tube 73 is slidably fitted around the lift rod 71. The lift tube
73 is slidably fitted in the guide sleeve 65.
[0028] The lift rod 71 has a shoulder portion 74 formed at a portion thereof slightly above
the midportion of its height by providing a small-diameter portion 75 above this portion.
The small-diameter portion 75 has an upper end projecting upward beyond the lift tube
73. The projecting end is provided with a stopper 76. The lift tube 73 has an upper
end projecting upward beyond the guide sleeve 65 and provided with a cap 77. Pivotal
arms 79 movable upward or downward are connected, each at one end thereof, to the
cap 77 by a pair of connecting rods 78 (FIG. 7). The small-diameter portion 75 extends
through the top wall of the cap 77. A clearance C is provided between the stopper
76 and the cap 77 for permitting free movement of the lift rod 71 and the lift tube
73 relative to each other. The lift tube 73 is provided close to its lower end with
a pair of ears 81 projecting leftward and rightward in opposite directions.
[0029] The two lower ear pressing members 62 are in the form of rectangular plates extending
vertically and opposed to each other leftward and rightward, and are secured to the
lower ends of a pair of left and right levers 82 extending vertically. The levers
82 are attached by horizontal support rods 83 to the lower ends of the pair of brackets
66 pivotally leftwardly or rightwardly movably. Attached to the upper ends of the
levers 82 are a pair of left and right connecting links 84. The links 84 have other
ends connected to the respective ears 81.
[0030] A large outer compression coil spring 86 fitted around the guide sleeve 65 is provided
between a spring retainer 85 on the outer surface of the guide sleeve 65 and a flange
at the lower end of the cap 77. A small inner compression coil spring 87 fitted around
the small-diameter portion 75 is provided between the shoulder portion 74 and the
top wall of the cap 77.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 7, a pair of front and rear lock members 91 projecting forward
and rearward away from each other in directions orthogonal to the ears 81 and extending
forwardly and rearwardly downward obliquely are secured to the lift tube 73 close
to its lower end. Each of the lock members 91 has at its lower end a bifurcated portion
92 carrying a vertical roller 93.
[0032] On the other hand, a vertical engaging pin 94 is provided upright on the lengthwise
midportion of top of the holder 34.
[0033] Immediately before the uncompleted container C1 is brought to the ear bonding station
S3, the portions to be bonded of the container body M1 and upper and lower ears U1,
L1 are heated by the heater 23.
[0034] When the container C1 is transported to the ear bonding station S3, the pivotal arms
79 are lowered by unillustrated means, whereupon the lift tube 73 is lowered along
with the lift rod 71. The upper ear pressing member 61 descending with the lift rod
71 compresses the inner compression spring 87, thereby pressing the upper ears U1
against the top wall of the container C1 to bond the upper ear U1 to the container
upper wall under pressure. When the pressure increases to a predetermined value, the
lift rod 71 does not descend further but the lift tube 73 only descends thereafter.
Upon the descent of the lift tube 73, the connecting links 84 move the upper ends
of the levers 82 away from each other to move the two lower ear pressing members 62
toward each other. Consequently, the lower ears L1 are bonded to the respective side
walls of the container body M1 by the pressing members 62.
[0035] On the other hand, when the lift tube 73 is lowered to a position a short distance
above its lower limit position, the lock members 91 cause the rollers 93 to hold adjacent
engaging pins 94 from front and rear sides, whereby the side plates 52 of the adjacent
holders 34 are restrained from acting to move the upper ends thereof away from each
other.
[0036] If the pressure of the upper ear pressing member 61 and the lower ear pressing members
62 is exerted on the container body M1 without restraining the adjacent holders 34,
the adjacent transport blocks 41 flex at an obtuse angle with each other by an amount
corresponding to the play of components of the chain 33, e.g., the clearance in the
guide groove 47 around the support roller 45. This results in the likelihood that
the holders 34 will be so flexed as to move the upper ends of the side plates 52 away
from each other. Proper pressure then fails to act on the required portions of the
container C1 to entail the likelihood of a faulty seal occurring. However, if the
holders 34 are so locked by the rock members 91 as described above, this likelihood
is avoidable.
[0037] FIGS. 2 to 4 show the container feeder 15 in detail.
[0038] The container feeder 15 comprises a slanting supply chute 101 extending from a position
below the uncompleted container forming device 13 to the starting end of transport
path of the forming conveyor 21, and an upper supply conveyor 102 and a lower supply
conveyor 103 arranged respectively on the upper and lower sides of the supply chute
101.
[0039] The supply chute 101 comprises an upper chute portion 111 and a lower chute portion
112. The upper chute portion 111 is in the form of a trough as generally known well.
[0040] As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the lower chute portion 112 comprises a slide plate
121 for guiding the container body M1 as received thereon, and a pair of guide rails
122 extending in parallel to each other for guiding the ears U1, L1 as received thereon.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows one holder 34 as halted at the feed station S0 at the starting end of
transport path of the forming conveyor 21. The holder 34 is in the course of travel
around the driven sprocket 32, and the upper end of the side plate 52 of the holder
is joined to the lower end of the slide plate 121 of the lower chute portion 112.
[0042] The upper supply conveyor 102 comprises a pair of left and right upper driven sprockets
131 arranged above the lengthwise midportion of the upper chute portion 111, a pair
of left and right upper drive sprockets 132 arranged above a lengthwise intermediate
portion of the lower chute portion 112, a pair of left and right upper endless chains
133 each reeved around the sprockets 131, 132 at the same left or right side, and
a plurality of upper receiving members 134 attached to the chains 133 at a predetermined
spacing.
[0043] The upper supply conveyor 102 is so disposed that its chains 133 are driven to move
counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and to cause the upper receiving members 134 traveling
along the lower path of movement of the chains to advance into the path of transport
of the chute.
[0044] Two upper receiving members 134 attached respectively to the left and right chains
133 in the same phase are paired, and the pair of upper receiving members 134 is spaced
apart by a distance smaller than the width of the container body M1. Accordingly,
the container C1 falling along the chute 101 has the lower end of its bottom portion
B1 received by the pair of upper receiving members 134.
[0045] The lower supply conveyor 103 comprises a pair of left and right lower driven sprockets
141 arranged slightly below the upper end of the lower chute portion 112, lower drive
sprockets 142 arranged below the lower end of the lower chute portion 112 at opposite
sides of the path of movement of the conveyor holder side plate 52, a pair of left
and right lower endless chains 143 each reeved around the sprockets 141, 142 at the
same left or right side, and a plurality of lower receiving members 144 attached to
the chains 143 at a predetermined spacing.
[0046] The lower supply conveyor 103 is so disposed that its chains 143 are driven to move
clockwise in FIG. 2 in opposite direction to the chains of the upper supply conveyor
102 and to cause the lower receiving members 144 traveling along the upper path of
movement of the chains to advance into the path of transport of the chute.
[0047] Like the upper receiving members 134, two lower receiving members 144 attached respectively
to the left and right chains 143 in the same phase are paired, but the pair of lower
receiving members 144 are spaced apart by a distance larger than the width of the
container body M1 but smaller than the distance between the outer ends of the ears
U1, L1. Accordingly, the container C1 falling along the chute 101 has the lower ends
of its upper ears received by the pair of lower receiving members 144.
[0048] The two supply conveyors 102, 103 are so driven that the upper receiving members
134 move at a higher speed than the lower receiving members 144.
[0049] The uncompleted container C1 is discharged from the uncompleted container forming
device 13 by falling. The discharged uncompleted container C1 is received by the upper
chute portion 111 and received by a pair of upper receiving members 134 while falling
along the upper chute portion 111 under gravity. The container C1 is thereafter transported
as received by the upper receiving members 134. Soon after the upper receiving members
134 receiving the uncompleted container C1 have moved past the location of the lower
driven sprockets 141, a pair of lower receiving members 144 advance to below the upper
ears U1 of the container. Since the upper receiving members 134 move faster than the
lower receiving members 144, the lower receiving members 144 come into contact with
the upper ears U1 of the container received by the upper receiving members 134, and
the upper receiving members 134 leave the container, whereby the upper receiving members
134 are replaced by the lower receiving members 144 for receiving the container C1.
The uncompleted container C1 is therafter transported as received by the lower receiving
members 144 along the lower chute portion 112. Upon the lower receiving members 144
reaching the location of the lower drive sprockets 142, the bottom portion of the
container C1 as received by the lower receiving members 144 is seated on the bottom
plate 51 of the holder 34 waiting at the location. In this way, the uncompleted container
C1 is completely delivered from the supply chute 101 to the forming conveyor 21.
1. A container feeder for feeding pillowlike uncompleted containers each having a container
body and upper and lower ears projecting laterally from upper and lower ends of the
container body to a conveyor of a container forming device for forming the uncompleted
container into a rectangular parallelepipedal completed container, the container feeder
comprising:
a slanting chute having a lower end positioned at a starting end of a conveyor transport
path,
a first receiving member so disposed as to be movable upward or downward along a chute
transport path, the first receiving member being movable into the chute transport
path when moving downward to receive the lower end of the container body of the container
falling along the chute under gravity, and
a second receiving member so disposed as to be movable upward or downward along the
chute transport path, the second receiving member being movable into the chute transport
path when moving downward to receive the upper ears of the container received by the
first receiving member.
2. A container feeder according to claim 1 wherein a path of upward or downward movement
of the second receiving member has a lower end joined to the starting end of the conveyor
transport path.
3. A container feeder according to claim 2 wherein the speed of downward movement of
the first receiving member is higher than the speed of downward movement of the second
receiving member.
4. A container feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first receiving
member is attached to a first endless chain having a lower-side travel path positioned
close to the chute transport path along the upper side thereof, and the second receiving
member is attached to a second endless chain having an upper-side travel path positioned
close to the chute transport path along the lower side thereof, the second endless
chain comprising a pair of chain members extending in parallel as spaced apart from
each other by a predetermined distance and each having the second receiving member
attached thereto, the chain members having lower ends positioned at opposite sides
of the starting end of the conveyor transport path.
5. A container feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the conveyor has
holders, each holder comprising a bottom plate extending in parallel to the conveyor
transport path, and a side plate projecting upward from the bottom plate and extending
orthogonal to the conveyor transport path, the side plate of the holder as halted
at the starting end of the conveyor transport path having an upper end joined to the
lower end of the chute to deliver the container from the chute to the holder in this
state.
6. A container feeder according to claim 4 wherein the conveyor has holders, each holder
comprising a bottom plate extending in parallel to the conveyor transport path, and
a side plate projecting upward from the bottom plate and extending orthogonal to the
conveyor transport path, the side plate of the holder as halted at the starting end
of the conveyor transport path having an upper end joined to the lower end of the
chute to deliver the container from the chute to the holder in this state.